Customer Reviews

The Chatter of the Maidens (Hawkenlye Mysteries)

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Alys Clare's novels are like a breath of fresh air. I love medieval murder mysteries and there are certainly a lot of them about (thank goodness), but the authors books breathe new life into the period and her will they won't they situation with Helewise and Sir Josse, holds the reader's attention as well. Don't be swayed into thinking that these books are written with the female reader in mind. They are for everybody, young and old, male or female. Alys Clare lives in Kent where the Hawkenlye mysteries are set.

The peace and quiet of the Abbey at Hawkenlye has been disturbed by the arrival of a new nun and her two young sisters. They have been recently orphaned and Alba the eldest has had to give up her post at a convent in Ely to get her sisters as far away as possible from the scene of their grief.

However Helewise, the Abbess at Hawkenlye is not sure that the gesture is solely for the benefit of the young girls, after all Alba is known by all to be a mean-minded young woman. Helewise's anxiety is increased when her friend Sir Josse is brought to the Abbey half dead from blood poisoning. Then a body is discovered and one of the sisters goes missing. Helewise sets off the Ely to discover the real reason for Alba leaving the convent there . . .

This Hawkenlye mystery (fourth in the series) is a must for those who enjoyed Ellis Peters's books. However, it stands on its own, with a fresh approach to medieval crime novels. The author provides an engrossing tale, finely drawn characters in Abbess Helewise and her friend, Josse d'Acquin, and a realistic sense of the time period.

The fourth book in the Hawkenlye mystery series is a short quick read. It's set in medieval times (circa 1190) in an Abbey in East Anglia. The plot is a simple one with a predictable outcome.

Three sisters arrive at the Abbey with no place to go. Both parents are dead. One exhibits strange and violent behavior. Soon, a pilgrim to a nearby holy attraction dies mysteriously.

When the Abbess investigates, she uncovers another violent death. The outcome is predictable. There's a very minor romance sub-plot that adds a bit of spice to an otherwise mediocre story.

If you like Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series or Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma series, you will probably like this book. But if you prefer brain-teasing puzzles or a book rich with accurate history, then this book probably is not for you.

Alys Clare has a long and successful mystery series set in the XI century, featuring abbess Helowese and her friend, the knight Josse d'Acquin. Her books are short and light, with the focus on the rich tapestry of historical details and authentic data. Her forte, unfortunately,isn't the staple of a good mystery, the proverbial puzzle. Her mysteries are lightweight and not very mindgripping. For marvelous portrayal of the times begone she deserves 3,5 stars if possible.

THE CHATTER OF THE MAIDENS (Hist Myst-a Hawkenlye Mystery-England-1190) - G+
Clare, Alys - 4th in series
Hodder & Stoughton, 2001, UK Hardcover - ISBN: 0340793279

First Sentence: The fire took hold quickly.

Josse d'Acquin lies ill in the infirmary at Hawkenlye Abby leaving Abbess Helewise to deal with a new nun and her sisters, all recently orphaned. Alba left her convent at Ely so she, and her sisters, could start in a new place.

A stranger is found murdered, one sister disappears and Alba's actions belie her calling, forcing Helewise to sequester Alba in a locked chamber. In order to decide what action to take, Helewise must travel to Ely and the girl's home in order to learn of their past and determine their future.

The Hawkenlye books remind me a bit of S.J. Rozen's series in that the Abbess and Josse take turns as lead protagonist in each book. This story belongs to the Abbess.

It's a classic traditional mystery set in a medieval time where the church play a predominate role in the characters' lives but there is a touch of the ancient druid as well. The Abbess and Josse are wonderful characters--the nun and the warrior--and an excellent balance to each other, each with their own strengths.

The mystery is compelling and as much psychological as it is physical. I am always fascinated by details of medieval life.

Highly recommended for lovers of historical mysteries, I am pleased to know I have many more books ahead of me in this series.